Water-heater.



T. W. PITGHER.

WATER HEATER.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1906.

965,536. Patented Ju1y26,1910.

1 WW 0 ac a vone embodiment of the casing is a,

THOMAS WALTER PITCHER, 0F BAYONNE, WATER HEATER COMPANY, A

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WATER-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 26, 1910.

Application filed September 20, 1906. Serial Nb. 335,365.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS VVAL'rnR Prronnn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Bayonne, Hudson county, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ater-Heaters, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to water heaters and particularly to valve mechanism for automatically controlling the supply of fuel to water heaters by the flow of water therethrough'.

Objects of the invention are to provide a compact, simple n'iechanism by which the fuel valve may be automatically and reliably controlled by the pressure of the water supply to the heater or by sli ht differences in pressure produced by the ow of water through the heater; to provide such a. mechanism which is reliable and positive in its action and wherein the parts are convci'licntly and compactly arranged and so as to assure their performing their movements and effecting their functions accurately and reliably, and further so as to have the parts protected from disarrangc-.

mcnt or damage. These and other objects of invention will in part be obvious and will in part more fully appear herein.

The invention consists in the novel parts, improvements, arrangements and combinations herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and forming a part hereof, illustrate invention, the same serving in connection with the description herein to explain the principles of the invention. Of the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a valve mechanism constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line AA of Fig. l; and F 3 and J: are detail views.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates a casing provided with a water inlet 2 and a water outlet 3. Conveniently located with reference to the said fuel conveyor, shown herein in the form of a trolling valve 5 of suitable and convenient fo gni. The casing 1 is connected with a water system on either side of the heater tional to the amountof pipe 4, having a fuel cons and said casing has connected therewith means for controlling, through the action of the valve 5, the flow of fuel through the pipe 4 so that the {amount of fuel supplied to the heater may be substantially proportionate to the amount of water passing therethrough. According to certain features of the invention there are provided within the casing two piston chambers out of alinement with each other but having their axes substantially parallel. One of the; piston chambers, indicated by the reference numeral 6, is in the line of water flow between the inlet and outlet passages, and has a piston 8 therein constructed so as to receive movement from the water flow, the amount of movement being substantially proporwater fiow. The other piston chamber, indicated by the reference numeral 7, is also provided with a piston 9, having the water pressure upon one side only. The piston chamber 7 is accordingly constructed with one end in com; munication with the casing 1 and with the other end in communication with the atmosphere, the aperture lO'bcing provided for this purpose.

According to certain features of the invention it is contemplated, in connection with the general arrangement of piston chambers just described, to have the pistons with the same effective area subject to the water pressure, the piston which is in the line of water flow and which serves to open the fuel controlling valve having a greater movement to produce a given movement of the fuel controlling valve than the other piston, which operates to close the fuel controlling valve. According to certain other features of the invention it is contemplated also to provide connections between the two pistons which are located entirely within the casing. The said features, as will be understood, may be used together in an embodiment or separately, if desired. The arrangements specified possess the advantages, together with other advantages,- of giving an accurate and reliable movement of the parts, of permitting the connections being of a simple, convenient and effective form, and also preserves the connections from intentional or unintentional damage or disarrangement.

Other features forth herein.

of the invention. will be set 'Meansare provided for giving the piston 8 a movement substantially proportional to the water flow at any given time, and in the form of"such means illustrated herewith, there is shown located within the piston chamber 6, and arranged axially thereof, a slotted tube 11 upon which the piston 8 slides in its movement, the iston closing the piston chamber about the s otted tube.- The piston slides along the slotted tube when moved by the pressure of the water flow, the amount of movement imparted to the piston being substantially roportional to the amount of the water ow. A series of passages 19 are arranged in the end of the piston chamber 6 about the slotted tube 11 in order'to provide communication with the water outlet 3.. A small water passage 29 in theclosed end of the tube 11, or the equiva-.

lent of this, may be provided and .is desirable in order to prevent a leaky faucet somewhere on the line from causing the opening of the fuel valve., In other words, it is de sirable, as it is Well known in this art, to

.provide a leak past the motor piston to prevent the apparatus from operating exce t when a substantial flow of water 1s esta lished; otherwise, the fuelmay be turned on when there is not a substantial flow of water and the heater thus injured or destroyed.

Suitable devices for further guiding the piston, permitting free access of the water to the piston and tube, and for constituting a part of the connections to the other piston are provided in this embodiment. The form of such devices hereinshown comprises an open frame 12 fixed to the piston 8, a yoke 13 attached to the said frame and a rod 141-. attached to the yoke. The rod 14: plays in a cylindrical compartment 15 closed except at the end where it communicates with the case ing'l. Means are provided for guiding the ro atthe mouth of the compartment 15. The said bushing is provided with a slot 18 which affords a communicating channel between the compartment and the casing.

In accordance with certain features of the lnventio'n, and as hereinbefore indicated, the

connections between the pistons 8 and ,9 are entirely within the casing 1. As herein,

shown'they comprise a lever 20 pivotedat a suitable point Within the casing and having at its free end a slot 22, preferably curved,

engaging with a pin 23 fixed in the yoke 13.-

Pivoted at a suitable point 24 upon-the lever- 20 is a link 25.connccted to the, piston 9. In

the present embodiment the piston 9 is shown as havmg a rigid, direct connection to the fuel controlling valve 5, said connecthe end. of the slottedtube 11.-

eeasse upstanding perforated boss having a st'ufiing box 27.

For the purpose of preventing any water which might leak around the piston 9 from entering along the stem 26 through the stuffing box 27 into the pipe 4, a suitable drip guard is provided shown herein inthe form of an annular 'flange 28 integral with the piston 9 arranged about the stem 26..

The outside end of the stufling box, as willbe seen from the drawings, is raised above the floor or outer surface of the plpe 4 at this point, so that any drippings from the piston would follow the outside of the flange 28 and dropping upon the floor" beneath woulddrain outward through the opening 10.

While the operation of the mechanism will be understood from the foregoing description a recapitulation will be given.

When there is no water flow from the water inlet 2 through the casing 1 to the water outlet 3, the piston 8 is in equilibrium and in theposition shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, being brought and kept in this position by the piston 9 which has'the water pressure upon one side only. Upona flow of water being set up, the difference 1n pressure upon the two sides of the piston W111 cause it to move along the slotted tube 11 until the pressure is again equalized on the both sides of the piston, that is, the piston 8 will be given a movement proportionate to the amount of Water flow passing through the casing 1. Through the lever 20 and the link 25 the piston 9 is'caused to. move at the same time with the piston 8 but with a lesser amount of travel. The-valve 5 moves with the piston 9. When the water flow is in-j creased or decreased, the piston '8 will move backward and forward in correspondence to the difference in the water flow, and will also, through 1 the connections, move the valve 5. When the water is shut off and the flow ceases the pressure on each side of the piston 8 Will again be in equilibriumbut owing to the water pressure being onone side only of the piston 9 will be moved to its extreme position, thus closing the valve 5 and bringing the piston 8 into position at Fromall the foregoing it' will beunder stood that a-mechanism has been provided WlllCh realizes the-obgects of IIIVBIltlOIl andthe advantages herein setforth," together with 01 her objects and nutmeg-es.

' The invention, in its"broader; aspects, is i not lnmted'to the particular constructions shown, nor'to any particular construct1ons by which it has been or may be carried into effect, as many changes may be made in the construction without departing from the main principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An automatic valve mechanism for water heaters including in combination a fuel controlling valve, a casing provided with water inlet and outlet passages, two pistons-within said casing out of alinement with each other but having parallel axes, one of said pistons being located between the water inlet and outlet passages and the other iston being connected to the fuel controling valve, and connections between the said pistons-located entirely within the casing.

2. An automatic valve mechanism for water heaters including in combination a ling valve.

An automatic valve mechanism for water heaters including in combination a fuel controlling valve, a casing provided with water inlet and outlet passages, two pistons within said casing out of alinement with each other but having parallel axes, one of "said pistons being located between the water inlet and outlet passages and the other piston being connected to the fuel controlling valve, and connections between said pistons located entirely within the casing and constructed so that one piston will have more movement than the other for a given movement of the fuel controlling valve.

4. An automatic valve mechanism for water heaters including in combination a fuel. controlling valve, a casing provided with water inlet and outlet passages, two pistons within said casing out of alinement with each other but having parallel axes, one of said pistons being located between the water inlet and outlet passages and the other piston having a rigid direct connection to the fuel controlling valve, and connections between the said pistons so that the movement of either piston serves to move the fuel controlling valve, said connections being constructed so that there will he a greater movement of the indirectlyconnected val V0 and a less movement of the dircc connected valve for a given movement of the fuel controlling valve.

5. An automatic valve mechanism for water heaters including in combination a fuel controlling valve, a casing provided with water inlet and outlet passages, two pistons of substantially equal eflective areas within the said casing and out of alinement with each other but having parallel axes,

one of said pistons being locatedbetween the water inlet and outlet passages and the other piston being ,connected to the fuel controlling valve, and connections between said pistons so that a less movement of the last named piston is required for a given movement of the fuel controlling valve than of ton chamber located within said casing in the line of the water flow between the inlet and outlet-passages, a piston within the said chamber constructed to receive movement from the water flow, a second piston chamberout of alinement with said first piston chamber but with its axis parallel thereto, said second piston chamber communicating with the said casing at one end and with the atmosphere at the other end, a piston within the said chamber connected to the Fuel controlling valve, and connections between the twopistons, said connections being located entirely withintlie casing. k

7. An automatic valve mechanism for water heaters including in combination a fuel controlling valve, a casing provided with water nlet and outlet passages, a piston chamber located within said casing in the line of the water flow between the inletand outlet passages, a piston within the said chamber constructed to receive movement from the water fiow, a second piston chamber out of alinement with said first piston chamber but with its axis parallel thereto, said second piston chamber communicating with the said casing at one end and with the atmosphere at the other end, a piston of substantially the same area as the first mentioned piston within the said chamber and having a rigid connection to the fuel controlling valve, and connections between the two pistons located entirely within the easing, said connections'being constructed so that a greaterniovcmcnt of the piston in the line of water flow is necessary to produce a given movement of the fuel controlling valve.

8. An automatic valve mechanism for water heaters, including in combination a fuel controlling valve, a casing having water inlet and outlet. passages, a piston located at all times between said inlet :iud outlet passages, said piston having an opening thcrethrough, a tube fixed in the casing between the inlet and outlet passages and fitted to the opening in the piston, said tube having one or more longitudinal slots latter is in norma in its side and a closed end portion adapt-ed I in the piston when the position, and connecpiston and thefuel conto close the opening tions between the trolling valve.

9. An automatic valve mechanism for water heaters, including in combination a fuel controlling valve, a casing having water inlet and outlet passages, a piston located at all times between said inlet and outlet passages, said piston having an opening therethrough,a tube fixed in the casing between the inlet and, outlet passages and fitte d to the opening in the; piston, said tube hav ng one or mqre longitudinal slots in its side and a closed end portion adapted to close the opening in the piston when the- 'latteris in normal position, connections bewith each other but havin tween the piston and the fuel controlling valve, and means for restoring the piston to its normal psition and closing the valve when the flow of'water ceases.

10. An automatic valve mechanism .ior

Water heaters including in combination a and the other piston, and connection from.-

the said pistons to the fuel controlling valve.

I 11. An automatic valve mechanism for Water heaters including in combination, a

fuel controlling valve, a "casing, a piston withinthe said casing having the water pressure uponone side and the atmospheric pressure upon the other side, a stem cons necting the said piston and the fuel controlling valve,.an upstanding boss on the casing through which said stempas'ses,'andfa'dri-p guard on the piston 'arrangedto cause any leakage of water past the pistonjto. drilpl clear of the stemand the boss through whic it passes. 1

12. An automatic ,va'lve' mechanism for water heaters includl' fin combination a fuel controllin pipe, a t uel controlling valve within the sai pipe, a casing having, water inletand outlet vpassages, a piston chamber located within-the casing between the said passages, a slotted tube within the piston chamber, a piston surrounding said slotted tube so as to receive a movement substantially proportional to the flow of water throughthe tube, a second iston chamber communicating with the sai casing at' one 'end and withthe atmosphere at theother end, apiston within'the said piston chamher, a r1 -'d connection between the lastmentione piston and the fuel controlling valve, connections between the said pistons comprisin a pin 'fi xed relatively toone I 'W. B. Bonn;

piston, a ever having a curved slotted end, 

